Portola Valley: Departure of principal raises concerns in school community Portola Valley: Departure of principal raises concerns in school community (March 17, 2004)

** Portola Valley special meeting set to voice concerns and plan next steps for principal search.

By Marjorie Mader
Almanac Staff Writer

The resignation of Ed Winchester, principal of Corte Madera School for the past year, triggered concerns in the community last week about the need for stability of leadership at Portola Valley's middle school for grades 4-8.

Superintendent Anne Campbell, in a letter to Corte Madera parents March 8, said she had received a letter of resignation from Mr. Winchester, 44, and accepted his resignation, effective June 30. She acknowledged the "tremendous energy and commitment" that he brought to his position at Corte Madera, and wished him well "as he pursues other options."

"We will shortly begin a search for a new principal," said Superintendent Campbell, "and we will work diligently to find the best individual possible to serve Corte Madera and the community of Portola Valley."

She also said she would seek input from the community regarding the qualities community members would like to see in the new principal.

In response to the news, parents Denise Blocker and Jeannette Ramies passed out unsigned fliers in the school parking lot that said Mr. Winchester "was asked to resign," and raised concerns about the decision and "the constant change in leadership at our middle school (eight principals in 15 years)."

Parents, according to the flier, "were not adequately represented when the decision was made."

Superintendent Campbell said she could not comment further about the nature of or the reason for the resignation because it's a personnel matter.

Mr. Winchester did not return a phone call from the Almanac.

Community meeting

Parents Blocker and Ramies set up a meeting for March 15 where parents and others could express their views, and they invited the superintendent and the board to attend.

After a week of phone calls, e-mails, letters, parking lot conversations and a closed session of the school board March 11, a decision was made to hold the community meeting at 8 p.m. Monday, March 15, (after the Almanac's deadline) at Portola Valley Town Center. It was scheduled as a special meeting of the governing board in order for all trustees to legally attend.

"I do not believe, unfortunately, the sad fact of Ed Winchester's resignation is something we can change," said Ms. Blocker last Friday afternoon. "We do need a forum to express our views and disappointments."

Those at the meeting, she said, should also discuss procedures and criteria for hiring a principal and objective criteria for evaluating the principal's performance.

"I think a good portion of the community was surprised and saddened by Ed Winchester's departure," said parent Deb Smith. She said the rumor mill and fliers pointed out the need to have an open conversation in the community about the larger issues.

Ms. Smith said the key topics are stability of leadership at Corte Madera, working together as a community to match the right person to the job, and providing support for the principal to succeed.

After talking with the superintendent and parents Blocker and Ramies, Ms. Smith sought a neutral, impartial third party to facilitate a productive conversation at the Monday meeting. Jean Holbrook, a facilitator from the San Mateo County Office of Education, agreed to do it.

The agenda for the public meeting included remarks from Ms. Blocker and Ms. Ramies, introduction of facilitator Holbrook, and an hour for comments from the audience. After a short break, there was to be response from the school board and a discussion of the next steps in the Corte Madera principal search.

Mr. Winchester, previously an administrative vice principal at Sequoia High School, was recruited and hired a year ago under the watch of the former Portola Valley superintendent, Nancy Spaeth.

He took over from interim principal Leon Johnson in February 2003. The prior Corte Madera principal Chuck Krause had resigned the previous November.

E-mail Marjorie Mader at mmader@AlmanacNews.com

E-mail a friend a link to this story.